BAWA Health Initiative News

A PUBLICATION OF THE B AWA H EALTH INI TIATIVE December 2009

Small things, done with great love, can change the world !*
Dear Friends of the Bawa Health Initiative, Our progress continues -
sometimes slower than we
I have asked Dr. Blaise Dondji, our
might wish. Yet, always
Co-Founder and Vice President, to write a
with a vision and promise
letter for this issue of BHI News. Blaise has
that guides our steps. We
a story to share and he, more than any of
have raised the money
our Board members, can speak to what the
needed to do ground
work of the Bawa Health Initiative means to
preparation for a health
the families in his village.
campus and have
Since the Bawa Health Initiative was completed the footings for
formed in 2005, we have made significant the Primary Health Clinic.
strides in improving public health in the villages of We continue to need your help and support.
Bawa, Nloh, and Ntah in the West Province of
I hope you will read the letter from Blaise. I
Cameroon. When we began this work, infants and
know you will be touched by his words of gratitude
children were too often sick or dying from
and hope. Because of Blaise’s passionate and tireless
preventable illness. The lack of clean water for
pursuit of a better life for children growing up there,
drinking and cooking, worm infections, and the
his village has become our village as well.
constant threat of malaria were primary concerns.

Because of your support, the children of Bawa Margaret Jay

have clean water to drink, more healthy days, bigger President of BHI
smiles and a much brighter future. * From Table for Five...Thousand by Thomas Long and Allen Pote

A Letter from Dr. Blaise Dondji, Co-Founder of BHI

Dear Friends of BHI,
It is my great pleasure to
extend the gratitude of the
people of Bawa and
neighboring villages in the
West Province of Camer-
oon, Africa to all of you. I
have been amazed by the
support you have given to
people that you do not know, people that you have
never met.
I started this organization in 2005 with my friend
and colleague, Dr. Dennis Richardson with the sole
mission of improving the health of children and
families in Bawa and the surrounding villages.
One of the main reasons was that I grew up in this
village in the midst of malaria and many other
diseases, drinking muddy water, wearing torn clothes
and running around without shoes. I suffered from
these diseases but was blessed with opportunities. I
had a very ambitious father who still lives in Bawa. I
did not know my mom that much because she died
when I was 12.
BAWA Health Initiative News
Despite the fact that I am a native of Bawa, a locality health, vision and hearing to name a few. I cannot
not found on any world map, I have succeeded to be count the number of medical doctors, nurses and
where many might not expect anyone from Bawa to health professionals in these areas of specialties from
be. In 2001, I was recruited by the Yale University the United States and Europe who have expressed to
School of Medicine and worked there as a researcher me their willingness to volunteer their time and
and member of the faculty for a total of 6 years expertise in Bawa when BHI has an adequate
before moving to Washington State as a Professor at structure in place. The Bawa Health Initiative plan to
Central Washington University in Ellensburg, build, equip and staff a primary health clinic in Bawa
Washington. will go a long way in sustaining current
achievements, while developing and implementing
I know at the bottom of my heart that there many more programs that will not only improve people’s
smart kids in Bawa and if health but also their socio-
given the opportunity, they “The people of Bawa and neighboring
economic conditions. An
will be among the best villages are very proud of BHI and hope has accessible clinic will limit
scientists, doctors, engineers come back to them. They now know that they the number of deaths due to
… in the world. However, preventable causes such as
are not the forgotten children of God. “
they are afflicted by that of my Mum who died
diseases, poverty and some die before the age of 10. from severe bleeding after giving birth to my sister.

Fortunately, thanks to your financial and moral BHI needs your financial support, the people of Bawa
support, the Bawa Health Initiative (BHI) is coming need your support to get them out of the cycle of
to their aid with insecticide-impregnated bed nets to disease and poverty and we know that you will be
fight malaria, water filters to reduce the burden of there to help.
water borne diseases, and helminth (worm parasite)
treatment programs. We have already recorded With gratefulness,
considerable reduction of deaths due to malaria and
water borne disease since the initiation of BHI Blaise Dondji, Ph.D.
activities in the area. We have made considerable Co-founder and Vice-President of BHI
progress in changing the lives of people served by Son of Bawa
BHI programs. This comes with an improvement in
general well-being. The people of Bawa and
neighboring villages are very proud of BHI and hope
has come back to them. They now know that they are
not the forgotten children of God.

However, my experience as a tropical disease expert

has demonstrated that such achievement is not
permanent if it is not sustained. Also, there are
several health conditions that could not be targeted
in our programs since we do not have the required
physical structure — a primary health clinic. Such
conditions include respiratory diseases, dental

Page 2
 December 2009

A NEWS NOTE
• Congratulations to our Bawa Health Initiative Field Coordinator in Cameroon, Sylvain
Foulefack and his wife on the birth earlier this year of a daughter, Ange-Jeanette (who was
named in honor of Jeanette Gross, BHI Board member and frequent Bawa volunteer).

You Can Stay Connected with BHI Online

Check out our website (bawahealth.org) for background information about Bawa, Cameroon and health
issues in sub–Saharan Africa; our BHI mission statement, a listing of Board Members and Officers,
scientific research articles and studies, pictures, newsletter updates, and more.

We also have a new Facebook page. Find us by searching …

just type Bawa Health Initiative and become a fan!

Building a Healthy Future Together

Phase One :
The property for the Primary Health Clinic,
Nurse’s Residence and Health Education
Resource Center was given by the village. Bawa Health
Initiative volunteers have used it as a place to pitch tents
while working in Bawa and it has been a place for
community gatherings and celebrations.
Phase Two:
During the Dry Season (January—April) of 2009, ground
work was completed and construction began and was
completed for the foundation footings for the Primary
Health Clinic.

Now we need to continue the work …..

The foundation footings for the Nurse’s Residence and
the Health Education Resource Center (which
will also serve as a residence for visiting doctors and BHI
volunteers) need to be constructed. The estimated
foundation cost for each building is $6,000.
We need to continue the construction until the Health
Clinic Campus is ready to be equipped and staffed. The
estimated costs for construction are:

Primary Health Clinic: $103,000.

Nurse’s Residence: $54,000.
Health Education Resource Center: $60,000.

Your help is needed … your gift to BHI will make a difference!

Page 3
 BAWA Health Initiative News
A Publication of the Bawa Health Initiative December 2009

Bawa Health Initiative Our Mission: The Bawa Health Initiative (BHI) is a non-profit 501c (3) organization founded in May 2005
Box 432
by Dennis Richardson, PhD. and Blaise Dondji, PhD. (a native of Bawa). Our mission is to improve the health
Wallingford, CT 06492
of children and families in Bawa and surrounding villages in Cameroon, West Africa by addressing vital public
Phone: 203-213-1024 health issues - safe water, malaria, HIV/AIDS prevention, parasite infection treatment, socio-economic
www.bawahealth.org
improvements - and by building, equipping, and staffing a Primary Health Clinic.

With your gift to BHI,

we can continue to work
together to bring health and hope
to the families of
our village!
A gift of $10.00 to BHI can purchase an insecticide A gift of $40.00 to BHI can provide the materials
-treated bed net and reduce the threat of malaria - a for local villagers to construct a simple Bio-Sand
leading cause of childhood illness and death in water filter to ensure safer drinking water and
Cameroon and much of sub-Saharan Africa reduce water borne parasites and illness.

Summer 2010 Health Survey Planned

D

During June and early July 2010, the Bawa Health Initiative will be sending a team of volunteers
to Cameroon. The team will assess the progress that has been made in all areas of our public health work
- the distribution of bed nets, installation of water filters, parasite treatment program, and HIV/AIDS
education and prevention - as well as inspect the progress on clinic construction. The visit will provide
an opportunity for our team to consult and work with BHI Field Coordinator, Sylvain Foulefack and
members of the Village Health Committees (VHC).

In 2007, a BHI team - led by Dennis Richardson, Co-Founder and Quinnipiac University
Professor of Parasitology - conducted a complete health survey of the villages of Bawa and Nloh.
Research done at that time has given us a solid baseline for prioritizing our work and this 2010 trip is a
vital part of our research plan. This three year follow-up will enable us to confirm the effectiveness of our
public health initiatives. We will be sending a three person team: Dr. Dennis Richardson, his wife
Kristen, also a professor at Quinnipiac, and Jeanette Gross, R.N., who was part of the initial 2007 team
and will be returning to the village. Our research guides our work and ensures that every dollar you
donate is put to the best possible use.

We need your support to cover the travel costs for our team and expenses for test kits and
supplies. Your tax deductible financial gift to the Bawa Health Initiative will support the continuing
public health work being done in Bawa and is vital as we continue the building of a Primary Health
Clinic.
Please mail your check today!

Bawa Health Initiative

Box 432
Wallingford, CT 06492